Mechanically-operated bell



Oct. 29, 1929.

L. W. WINNALL ET AL MECHANICALLY 'OPERATED BELL Filed Nov. 10, 1928Patented 0a. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESLIE WATTWINNAI-LAND' EDWARD HARRY WINNALL, OF J OHAN NESBURG, TRANS- Applicationfiled November 10, 1928, Serial Nb. 318,491,-and in the Union Thisinvention relates to mechanically op erated bells or gongs. Theinvention is especially applicable for use at railway crossings and inother situations where loud-sounding warning bells are required, andwhich bells are usually brought into operation, automatically orotherwise, by means controlling, or opening and closing the electriccircuit of the bell-actuating motor.

Theoperating mechanism or means can, if desired, be designed so as to bedouble act ing, or so that it will operate the clapper, hammer or tongueof thebell in such a way as to strike and ring the bell at theend of itsmovement in both directions. To the attainment of this object theinvention appertains to the bell action or mechanism for transmittingthe motion from the electrical motor or other actuating means to theclapper, hammer or tongue of the bell. Such means include suitablereducing gear through which the rotary motion of the electric motor istransmitted to means actuating the bell clapper, etcetera.

The mechanism for operating the clapper is so designed that the clapperis thrown against and strikes the bell, and is then able to rebound andswing freely in the opposite or reverse direction for a certaindistance, preferably before being re-engaged and positively moved insaid reverse direction by the operating means. The actuating mechanismmay be such that the clapper is positively moved in the direction of oneside of the bell towithin a short distance of the latter and is thentree to continue its movement in the same direction due to its momentum,until it strikes the bell, and thereafter is free to rebound for acertain distance before being re-engaged and positively moved in thereverse direction by the operating mechanism, which will then cause itto swing or move in the direction of and in the same manner strike theopposite side of the bell.

The operating mechanism is preferably capable of adjustment in order tovary the eX-- tent of the free movement of the clapper (due to momentumand rebound) in both directions.

In the accompanying drawings we illus- VAAL, soUTn AFRICAMnoHA-N1cALLv-orERATEn BELL of South Africa November 17,

trate a practical embodiment of the invention, applied to an ordinarybell in which the operating means or mechanism actuates the clapper tostrike the fixedbell at the end of its movement in both directions Fig.1 being a sectional elevation of the bell, showing the operatingmechanism irrelevation, and I e I n Fig. 2 an elevation at right anglesto Fig. 1, with'the bell omitted. i V

In the drawings the numeral 1' denotes a carrier or support for the bell2 and the parts of the operating mechanism for the clapper, hammer ortongue 3,which is shown provided with two heads 4 adjustably attached tothe lower screw-threaded portion 5 of the clapper rod 6 by nuts, 7, 8. 9represents a stud screwed. into the: top of the support 1, and-10,11,,nuts for securing the bell 2 thereon. v y i A-bolt or pin '12 isfixed in one side of the supportil and provided with a smooth reducedportion-13. On the portion 13 is loosely. mounted a :part orfmember 14:into which the upper end of the clapper rod 6 is screwed and secured bya lock-nut '15. 16 and 17 are washer and nut respectively for retainingthe part or member 14 in position on the part 13 ofthebolt or pin 12.The'part or member 14 is constructedintegral with an armor lever 18which, at its, outer end, is constructed with an arcuate or curved slot19, and fitted. with set screws20, 21, at the top and bottom, whichenter opposite ends of the arcuate or curved slot19. w 22 is another pinor bolt, fixed to thesupportl below the bolt.12, on a reduced portion ofwhichisloosely mounted a toothed gear wheel23, 24, 25, being washer andnut re spectively for retaining said wheel 23 in positionon the bolt 22.The toothed wheel 23 carries, a pin 26, fixed ata suitable dis tancefrom its axis or centre, which pin 26 operates as a crank pin and hasloosely at tached to it one end of a-connecting rod or link 27, theother. end of which is loosely at tached to the outer endof theiarm orlever 18 by means of a pin or bolt 28, which is positioned and works inthe arcuate or curved slot 19, between the ends of the set screws 20,21, so thatv the latter can be used for effecting or lever 18. 29, 30,are nut and washer respectively for retaining the one end of the link 27on the crank pin 26, and 31, 32, are nut and washer respectively on theone end of the pin or bolt 28 for retaining the other end of the link 27on the pin or bolt 28, while 33, 34, are nut and washer respectively onthe other end of the pin or bolt 28 for retaining' said pin or bolt 28in position in the slot 19. The means for driving the toothed wheel 23is shown consisting of a pinion 35 mounted on the inner end of a spindle36 journalled in the side of the support 1 and in a bearing 37 fixed onthe base portion 38 of the support 1. 39 is a further toothed wheelfixed on the spindle 36 and driven by a pinion 40 on the driving shaft41. If the bell action ormechanism is driven by an electricm0torindicated at 42, in dotted lines, in Fig. 1then the motor may beconnected, directly or indirectly, to the driving shaft 41.

The clapper 3 is shown constructed with the two heads or hammer portions4 for striking the bell 2 at the end of the movement of the clapper 3 inboth directions. In Fig. 1 the heads 4 of the clapper 3 are shown indotted lines in proximity to the opposite sides of the bell 2, whichdotted positions may represent the positions to which said heads 4 arepositively moved by the operating mechanism, and the points at whichthey are free to swing outwards due to momentum and strike the bell. Anydesired adjustment of the movement of the mechanism to vary the pointsat which the clapper 3 is free to swing outwardly in both directions dueto the momeans slidingly engaging in the slot, and means for operatingsaid link, the connection between the link and the lever allowing of thepositive movement of the clapper, through the lever, to points near thebell, and then, by relative movement of the link and lever at the pointof connection, allowing the clapper to swing freely outwards, due to itsmomentum, to strike the bell, as set forth.

3. In a mechanically operated double-act ing bell, the combination withthe clapper of means which positively move the clapper to a point nearthe bell in both directions, and then allow the clapper to swing freelyoutwards due to its momentum to strike the bell at two opposite points,said means including a lever attached to the clapper at one end, a linkattached to the lever at the other end, the end of the link and theattached end of the lever being provided the one'with a slot and theother with a pin working in said slot, and the slotted member beingprovided with screw adjusting means to vary the length of the slot andthe position thereof relative to the pin, and means including a crankfor operating said link, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

LESLIE WATT WINNALL. EDWVARD HARRY WINNALL.

mentum, is efi'ected by adjusting the set screws 20, 21, relative to thepin 28.

What we claim as our invention and desire to protect by Letters Patentis 1. In a mechanically operated bell, the combination with the bell,and a clapper including a clapper rod and a hammer, of means foroperating said clapper including a lever mounted on a fulcrum andconnected at one end to the clapper rod below the fulcrum and having aslot in the other end, a link connected to the slotted end of said leverby means slidably engaging in the slot, and means for operating saidlink, said clapper operating means acting positively to move the clapperto a point near the bell at two opposite sides thereof and then allowingit to swing freely outwards in both directions, due to its momentum, tostrike the bell, as set forth.

2. In a mechanically operated bell, the combination with the bell, and aclapperine eluding a clapper rod and hammer, of means for operating saidclapper'including a lever mounted on a fulcrum and connected at one endto the clapper rod below the fulcrum and having a slot in the other end,a link connected to the slotted end of said lever by

